Colby College vs. Gordon College

Should I go to Colby College or Gordon College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Gordon College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. Gordon College comparison
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Overview

Colby College Gordon College
Location Waterville, ME Wenham, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,284 1,610
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #37 #343
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu gordon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Gordon College
Tuition (In State) $63,790 $27,000
Tuition (Out of State) $63,790 $27,000
Room & Board $17,120 $12,650
Avg Net Price $15,163 $25,250
Avg Grant Aid $66,387 $15,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 100%

Admission

Colby College Gordon College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 2,579
Admitted 1,215 1,516
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 58.8%
Enrolled % 49.8% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 26/32
SAT Range 1440/1550 1168/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Colby College Gordon College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • English and Literature (9%)

Outcomes

Colby College Gordon College
Graduation Rate 91% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $279

Diversity

Colby College Gordon College
% Men 0% 5%
% Women 0% 15%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 72%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 11% 8%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Colby College Gordon College
% In-State 7% 35%
% Out-of-State 79% 58%

Campus

Colby College Gordon College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colby College is larger than than Gordon College based on total student enrollment (2,284 students vs. 1,610 students)

Colby College vs. Gordon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Gordon College?

  • Colby College is 136.3% more expensive to attend than Gordon College for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 136.3% higher at Colby College than Gordon College ($63,790.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Gordon College ($15,163 vs. $25,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 35.3% lower than costs at Colby College ($12,650 vs. $17,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gordon College than Colby College (100% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 321.8% larger than aid received Gordon College ($66,387 vs. $15,740)

Colby College vs. Gordon College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Gordon College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Gordon College or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 251 points higher than at Gordon College (1112)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Gordon College (26)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Gordon College (3.58)
  • Gordon College has a higher acceptance rate (58.8%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Colby College vs. Gordon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Gordon College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Gordon College and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Gordon College (91% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $28,100 more per year than Gordon College graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $45,300)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $7,655 lower median federal student loan debt than Gordon College graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,000)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Gordon College graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 85%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/